This course explores some of the important themes in twentieth and twenty-first century world history, including the connections between politics, nationalism/imperialism and energy resources, (geo)politics and religion, the polarization of the North and the South, East and West, and the impact of global economy on all the above issues. Students are expected to develop a deeper understanding and a historical perspective of the main themes of the 20th century world through the course.

Goals for the course include:

Familiarity with the important themes and trends in 20th century world history

Ability to understand current world events from a variety of perspectives

Ability to interpret world events through appropriate comparisons and connections with other historical events

Ability to do historical research on world events through 1) scholarly sources such as Current History and Foreign Affairs, and other scholarly sources available through the search engines on campus, and 2) media sources that are generally accepted as balanced in reporting, e.g. the New York Times, Time magazine.

Ability to write research essays that interpret certain world events guided by themes and trends and the interpretive frameworks discussed in class.

I.Weekly writing assignments: There are usually two batches of reading assignments a week, and there is usually one essay question with each batch of reading assignment, with occasional exceptions. Forum questions are under the weekly reading assignments on the syllabus, and answers to these questions are to be posted on Oncourse Forums. They are due on the Saturday of each week, for instance, the question for week 1 is due by midnight Saturday, Jan.12. Forum questions are submitted via Forums on Oncourse.

How to answer forum questions: Each forum question should be answered in TWO ways: by posting your answer and posting a critique/commentary on someone else's posting. Your grade for each question is based on both your posting and your comments.

II. The class is divided into four lessons, each with a particular theme. For each lesson, one short research essay (4-5 pages) is required based on your research through tracing particular events or trends in 20th or 21st century world history, and relying on the themes and interpretive approaches of that particular lesson.The essays should be submitted through Assignments.

III. One online Connect meeting through the semester via Oncourse, or one campus visit.

Method of grading: all grades are assigned in
percentages, which will be tabulated at the end of the semester and converted to
letter grades. The averages of your take-home papers and of your weekly writing
assignments will be taken to represent the grades for your take-home paper and
weekly writing assignment. The conversion is as follows: 93-100: A; 90-92.9: A-;
85-89.9: B+; 80-84.9: B; 75-79.9: B-; 70-74.9: C+; 65-69.9: C; 60-64.9: C-; 55-59.9: D+;
50-54.9: D; 45-49.9: D-; 44 and below: F.

Grade distribution is as follows:

Forum postings: 33 per cent
Four take-home papers: 64 per cent
One Adobe Connect meeting or one campus visit: 3%

All grades will be shown in your Online
Gradebook, accessible via Oncourse. You need to have an IUN ID and password to
access Oncourse. If you do not have an IUN
email account, you can set up one here at https://itaccounts.iu.edu/. Oncourse is
also accessible through the IUN homepage: www.iun.edu. You should send all your homework to me via Oncourse. I will also use the
"Announcement" and class email functions of Oncourse to correspond with
you.

Class Schedule:

Lesson 1. The changing role of the state in economy and politics

Week 1(Jan.7-13)

I. Introduction. (PPT slides in Oncourse weekly modules) Also please note that ALL online readings are available from Oncourse Modules by the week.

Forum question 1: Describe how Franklin Roosevelt built a greater state regulated economy. How do you assess Roosevelt's approach and policies in light of your informed opinions on the subject of state and economy?

Forum question 2: Name two or three factors that led many countries to a state regulated type of economy after World War II. Do we see more state intervention in the world economies before and after 1945? Why?

Forum question 3: Describe what was different between post World War II Communist Eastern Europe and Western Europe and what they had in common. From there, can you generalize on the changing role of the state in the world after 1945?

Forum question 4: While the fall of Communism signifies a success for the free world and free market system, does the difficulty of transition, such as in Russia, signify something else? If so, what does it signify?

Forum question 5: Why did the world move away from government regulation in the 1990s? And how do we understand the change in the context of the relationship between the state and economies in the world in the 20th century?

Forum question 6: What was special about East Asia's joining the global market economy. Where do the East Asian economies fit in the global economic patterns of the late 20th-21st centuries?

Take-home essay 1: Pick on one of the themes covered in Lesson 1, e.g. the role of the state over the 20th century, the rise of Communism, the downfall of Communism, the aftermath of Communism, and write a 4 page, double spaced essay tracing the development of it in the past century or recent years, through sources such as newspapers like the New York Times, magazines like Time, Foreign Affairs, and scholarly sources. You need to use in-text citations. Also note that the more sources you use, the more likely for you to get a higher grade. If you have any trouble with writing, please contact the Writing Center at Hawthorn Hall, #418 (phone: 219 980 6502): http://www.iun.edu/~writenw/. Paper due via Oncourse Assignments on Feb.3.

Lesson 2: The emergence of a global community and a multi-centered world: nationalisms, civilizational and religious movements and confrontations in an era of globalization.

Week 5 (Feb.4-10)

I. The rise of OPEC to contend with American and European hegemony in the Middle East. Online reading 1. Energy Shock Oil and the Economy (located in Oncourse Week 5 Module).

Forum question 7: What are the repercussions of OPEC actions after 1973 on U.S. hegemony in the world and on the U.S. economy? Moreover, briefly discuss the significance of the rise of OPEC and regional centers of authority in world politics.

Forum question 8: Nationalism is usually defined as the sharing of a culture, religion, history, or language by a people since the mid-19th century. And it is usually treated as the result of a natural development over time. Describe the formation of the Middle Eastern states including the Arab ones and Israel, and, using that information, discuss how nationalism applies or does not apply in the formation of modern states in the 20th century, with the Middle East being an example.

Forum question 9: How do you explain the fallout of Yugoslavia in the wake of the downfall of Communism? Why do we see the resurgence of nationalism in a new global age?

II. Religion and civilizations in the new global order. Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations," in O'Meara, 3-22.

Forum question 10: Huntington argues that during the Cold War, it was ideology that divided countries. After the Cold War, it was culture, civilization, and religion. Do you agree with Huntington? Why or why not?

Forum question 12: How do Barber and
Kaplan make sense in the context of other readings on cultures and civilizations we have done before?

Week 8 (Feb.25-Mar.3)Take-home essay 2: Draw on one of the themes discussed in Lesson two, such as the rise of extreme nationalism, civilizational and religious conflicts in the world after the collapse of Communism in the 1990s, and write a 4 page, double spaced essay tracing the development of it in the past century or recent years, through sources such as newspapers like the New York Times, magazines like Time, Foreign Affairs, and scholarly sources. You need to use in-text citations. Also note that the more sources you use, the more likely for you to get a higher grade. If you have any trouble with writing, please contact the Writing Center at Hawthorn Hall, #418 (phone: 219 980 6502): http://www.iun.edu/~writenw/. Paper due via Oncourse Assignments on Mar.3.

Forum question 19: Compare the points made here regarding global politics with
Huntington's argument that culture and religion are the main dividers of people today. Give a brief description of your views on what elements determine global politics today.

Forum question 20: These essays were written over 10 years ago. From your experience with the
internet, comment on how well they have predicted the present.

Take-home essay 3: Draw on one of the themes discussed in Lesson 3, such as the impact of global economy on national borders and national security, globalization and democracy, interactions between religion/culture/politics/economy, and changes in people's expectations of what government should do for them, and write a 4 page, double spaced essay tracing the development of it in the past century or recent years, through sources such as newspapers like the New York Times, magazines like Time, Foreign Affairs, and scholarly sources.You need to use in-text citations. Also note that the more sources you use, the more likely for you to get a higher grade. If you have any trouble with writing, please contact the Writing Center at Hawthorn Hall, #418 (phone: 219 980 6502): http://www.iun.edu/~writenw/. Paper due via Oncourse Assignments on Mar.31.

Lesson 4 The environment, energy, and recent developments in North Korea and China.

Forum question 24: What does the author suggest are the new goals for global development? What are some obstacles? Do you agree/disagree?

Week 15 (Apr.15-21)
I. Security in northeast Asia: North Korea. Online readings: 1. North Korea Takes on the World (located in Oncourse 14 Module); 2. North Korea How Will It End (located in Oncourse Week 14 Module).

Forum question 25: What foreign policies do you think should the U.S. develop toward North Korea?

Forum question 26: What foreign policies do you think the U.S. should develop toward China?

Week 16 (Apr.22-28)Take-home Essay 4: Draw on one theme covered in Lesson 4, such as environment, energy, poverty, and water resources and challenges ahead, or American foriegn policy toward North Korea or China, and write a 4 page, double spaced essay tracing the development of it in the past century or recent years, through sources such as newspapers like the New York Times, magazines like Time, Foreign Affairs, and scholarly sources. You need to use in-text citations. Also note that the more sources you use, the more likely for you to get a higher grade. If you have any trouble with writing, please contact the Writing Center at Hawthorn Hall, #418 (phone: 219 980 6502): http://www.iun.edu/~writenw/. Paper due via Oncourse Assignments 2 on May 1.